The lava’s advance toward Pahoa, which had slowed over the last two days, stalled on Thursday.

After flying over the lava Thursday morning, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that the lava remains about .6 miles upslope of Apaa Street on the outskirts of town, near the Transfer Station and did not advance overnight.

Because of the pause in the lava’s advance, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists did not offer a new estimate on when the flow could reach Pahoa and the critical Highway 130.

Scientists said the lava flow continues to be active at the front, but most of the activity is taking place at breakouts upslope of the front and midway along the length of the flow, where lava first entered an underground crack system.

The front of the flow has only advanced about 50 yards since Monday.